Can Truck Drivers Have Their Licenses Revoked?

Have you ever pulled up to the back of a semi-truck with a sign asking, “How am I driving?” That is usually accompanied by a phone number that will let you call the trucking company and tell them exactly how their employee is driving.

According to the Large Truck and Bus Crash Facts 2020 report published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were 168,000 truck accidents that year, with 32% of those incidents involving injury and 3% involving fatalities.

There is room for improvement. Given what is at stake on the roads, it would be good to know if truck drivers can have their licenses revoked.

To operate a tractor-trailer or 18-wheeler, a driver must obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Everyone who drives a car gets a non-commercial driver’s license (NCDL). Both are subject to revocation, but there is much less leniency with truck drivers.

Four Ways a Trucker Can Lose Their CDL

Obtaining a CDL requires additional training, exams, and on-the-road certification.

Once a driver receives their license, they have to follow the same rules of the road as every other motorist. There are four ways that a truck driver can lose their CDL license:

Failing a Drug Test

Truck drivers are required to pass every drug test administered to them.

That begins with passing the first tests to get the CDL. If the truck driver is involved in a severe accident, they must also submit to a test. Additionally, many transportation companies subject their drivers to random drug testing.

Failure to pass a test could mean losing the CDL and the job.

Drinking and Driving

Another sure way to have a commercial driver’s license revoked is to be found to be driving under the influence of alcohol. This driving behavior is often responsible for T-bone truck accidents.

In Nevada, as with other states, a truck driver can put their CDL in trouble if they are convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) while operating a vehicle. According to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, truckers can have their driver’s licenses suspended for a year upon conviction for their first DUI charge.

Getting Traffic Citations

Truck drivers need to be extra vigilant when operating their big rigs. They are subject to the same traffic citations as any other motorist.

However, if a truck driver is cited for two serious violations within three years, their commercial driver’s license could be revoked for 60 days. If they get three tickets in three years, that suspension time goes up to 120 days.

Here is what the government considers to be serious traffic violations for truckers:

• Speeding at least 15 miles per hour or more over the posted limit
• Tailgating
• Improper lane changes
• Distracted driving
• Reckless behavior on the road
• Driving a truck with an invalid CDL
• Any traffic violations that involve a fatality

As with DUIs, if a truck driver is cited for any of those serious violations while driving a car, then it can affect a trucker’s ability to retain their CDL.

Letting a CDL Expire

In Nevada, you must renew your CDL every eight years or every four years if you’re over 65. That renewal requires an updated current medical certificate, passing qualification tests, and paying the renewal fee. If a truck driver is found driving without a valid CDL, they can be cited and have their license suspended.

It is important to note that a truck driver’s driving history “travels” with them from state to state per the FMCSA. In other words, they won’t be able to obtain a CDL in a new state if they have violations issued from another one.

Reporting a Truck Driver

If you witness a truck driver who is not following the rules of the road or exhibits reckless driving, you have the right to report them. That report can be filed with federal, state, and local agencies that regulate the trucking industry.

You can start by making a report with the Nevada Department of Transportation.

You can also read additional resources we’ve compiled for reporting truck drivers.

Beyond reporting an incident, if a collision with a tractor-trailer seriously injured you, you could benefit from discussing what happened with a truck accident attorney at the Trucking Injury Law Group. We work diligently for our clients and are proud of our record of success.

When it comes to truck drivers breaking the rules, if you see something, say something.